Machine for attaching heel portions



July 11, 1939. F. L. BRANDT MACHINE FOR ATTACHING HEEL PORTIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 //2 Filed Dec. 29, 195B l l 1 1 I 1 1 July 11, 1939.. BRANDT 2,165,919

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING HEEL PORTIONS Filed Dec. 29, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 2 PigS.

July 11, 1939.

F. L. BRANDT MACHINE FOR ATTAGI'IIIv'G HEEL PORTIONS Filed Dec. 29, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 July 11, 1939. F. L. BRANDT MACHINE FOR ATTACHING HEEL PORTIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 29, 1938 44 igr'Z ZZZ 226 Patented July 11, 1939 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFIQE MACHINE FOR ATTACHING HEEL PORTIONS Application December 29, 1938, Serial No. 248,274

55 Claims.

This invention relates to machines by which heels or parts thereof may be attached to shoes. Herein, it is disclosed as adapted for nailing a heel-base upon the heel-seat of a shoe or nailing a top-lift upon an attached base.

In shoe-repair-shops, the usual practice is to nail heels and their top-lifts without the assistance of a machine, the nails, especially for womens work, being driven by a hammer through the heel-seat of the shoe into the heel or through the top-lift into the heel. Operations performed in this manner tend to be slow, inaccurate as to the location of the work-portions and the arrangement of the nails, insufficient and irregular as to the depth of insertion, and to result in insecure attachment. An object of the present invention is to provide for the performance of such operations by a machine which may be employed readily for the attachment of the different heelportions. This machine positions and retains the work. in the correct relation and drives nails or other attaching fastenings in accordance with a predetermined design and in advantageous positions, as when inwardly inclined, and effects the insertion speedily and fully with ample power.

To achieve the above result, I employ, as a feature of the invention, a plurality of worksupports, with fastening-inserting means co-opcrating with each, which assemblies may furnish heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism, together with a work-abutment individual to each work-supported and mounted upon a carrier which is movable to preeach abutment selectively to its support to prepare either mechanism for operation. Herein, one support is shown as a shoe-entering jack, with drivers operating therein, to adaptthe mechanism for the inside nailing of heels, while the other support is a die upon which a top-lift may rest and having co-operating drivers. The jack may perform a double function, in that, during the use of the top-lift-attaching mechanism, it serves as a support for the forepart of a shoe being operated upon. The machine is preferably provided with a plurality of one form of inserting mechanism, as that for operating upon top-lifts, any one of which mechanisms may easily be brought into active position by means which is shown as a rotatable turret. About the turret, the inserting mechanisms may be mounted in .a circular series of openings, each mechanism comprising a die, drivers reciprocable in the die and a plunger upon which the drivers are carried, each such mechanism being separable from the turret as a unit and being movable in the rotation of the turret into registration with an actuating member. This turret arrangement gives the operator, almost without effort, a number of difierent nailings from which to choose that best fitted for the work being done. The actuating member is common to the mechanisms which operate on different heel-portions and may assume selective positions in which it may actuate any one of them. The selection may be by rotation of the member, while it reciprocates to operate the chosen mechanism. I prefer to effect such positioning of the actuating member by a connection to an element which is movable into and out of active position, this best being accomplished by joining the actuating member to the previously mentioned work-abutments. By this means, when an abutment assumes its active relation, the actuating member is automatically brought to the desired position. Since the force necessary for the insertion of the fastenings by one mechanism, as that for attaching heels, might be excessive when applied to another mechanism, as for top-lift-attaching, I have shown means for transmitting different forces to the mechanisms. For example, the plunger by which the heel-nails are driven may be acted upon directly by the actuating member, while that for driving the top-lift-attaching nails may be actuated through a loaded spring, which will yield when the desired force is exceeded. Fur: ther, different mechanisms for the attachment of work-pieces of the same character may best be operated by different forces. An example of this is' furnished by top-lift-attaching mechanisms adapted to insert different numbers of fastenings and which might cause injury to slender heels as the nailing design grows smaller, and the pressure is concentrated upon a less area. Such trouble is prevented by causing the actuating member to move through different distances to act upon different inserting mechanisms, so only a part of the pressure-movement is effective. This may be accomplished by having the surfaces of the driver-p-lungers, when in active position and which the actuating means acts upon, located at different distances from said actuating means, which therefore travels through varying degrees of lost-motion before it operates the different driver-plungers.

In attaching different heel-portions, the member which actuates the respective mechanisms may be called upon to move through different distances, a less travel being required for nailing top-lifts than for nailing heels. As another feature of the invention, I retain the actuating member against reverse movement between its actuation of different mechanisms. Thus, if after heelattaching, the actuating member is al lowed to return only through the distance required for the top-lift-attaching stroke, the operator will be relieved of a portion of the effort required to produce the second actuating movement. This may be accomplished by providing a retaining member for the actuating member, it being effective in one of the selective positions of the actuating member, as when a top-liftattaching mechanisms is to be operated, and ineffective in another position, as that for operation of the heel-attaching mechanism.

A further feature of the invention may be found in a device combined with the work-supporting jack, said jack and device being movable relatively to clamp a heel upon a shoe. The clamping device has a support provided with ways in which a slide is movable. A tread-abutment is movable upon the slide, and through said slide a portion of a rear abutment may be shifted, the slide and rear abutment being normally free to be positioned by the operator through the application of forces in the direction of their movements, there being means for locking said slide and rear abutment by forces created in clamping the work. The locking of the slide is effected by the application to an extension of the slide which is out of contact with its ways of a force incident to clamping, while that for the rear abutment is under the influence of a similar force, applied to an inclined shank carrying the abutment and passing through an opening in the slide. Both the slide and shank are preferably provided with spring devices, which will temporarily retain them in the positions to which they are'moved by the operator, to be there automatically locked when clamping pressure is applied.

Since the operator may wish to utilize the jack of the machine for operations independent of the attachment of heels and their top-lifts and in addition to the driving of the attaching nails, in connection with which independent operations the use of the heel-clamping device would interfere, as another feature of the invention I attach to the jack at the rear of the drivers a workengaging strap, which has means for tensioning it. With the clamping means raised and in active, the strap may hold 'a shoe or a shoe and heel upon the jack and still give the operator ready access to such work-portions as the heelseat of the shoe or the tread or breast of the heel.

Still another feature involves a top-lift-rack, by the use of which the operator may, with little thought and effort, arrive at both the size of the top-lift which is to be attached to a particular heel and the mechanism by which the attachment is to be made. This rack has a series of sections arranged respectively to hold top-lifts of different sizes and a gage associated with each racksection and adapted to determine the size of the heel which is to receive the corresponding toplift. Herein, the holders are shown as in the form of a series of grooves in a plate, while the gages consist of openings in the plate near the extremities of the grooves, each opening being smaller than the size of the top-lifts in the alined groove. When a gage-opening proves to be somewhat larger than the tread-end of a heel applied to it, the top-lifts contained in the corresponding groove are appropriate for use. Like symbols are applied to the gages and holders and the top-lift-nailing mechanisms in the turret of the machine, thus indicating the nailing which is to be used for the chosen top-lift.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated a particular embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 being a side elevation of my improved machine, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2, a detail in side elevation of a workholding strap associated with the heel-attaching mechanism;

Fig. 3, an enlarged, central, vertical section of the upper portion of the machine in a plane from front to rear thereof;

Fig. 4, a broken front elevation corresponding to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a vertical sectional detail, showing the heel-attaching mechanism;

Fig. 6, a similar view of the top-lift-attaching mechanism;

Fig. '7, a horizontal section, taken just above the fastening-inserting mechanisms;

Figs. 8 and 9, fragmentary horizontal sections illustrating, respectively, the driver-actuating mechanism in heeland top-lift-attaching relations, and

Fig. 10, an enlarged, detail, plan view of the top-lift-gaging means applied to the positioning of scrap-material.

A frame-column I!) has secured to its top a table-section l2, upon which is superposed a supporting section I4 for the mechanisms which operate upon the work. These mechanisms include heel-attaching means H and top-lift-attaching means T, these being located respectively at the front and rear of the support l4 and having arranged for association with them respective heeland top-lift-clamping devices A and B. Within the column I0 is actuating mechanism C, common to the two attaching mechanisms and operated for either by a treadle l6 fulcrumed at the bottom and rear of the column and projecting through an opening in the front.

In most respects, the heel-attaching mechanism H closely resembles that disclosed and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,135,656, Brandt, November 8, 1938. Briefly, a plunger 1 8 (Figs. 3 and 5) is guided for vertical reciprocation in the frame-section l4 and has an upper enlargement 20. Movable vertically about the plunger is a jack or work-support 22, the top of which conforms generally to the counter portion of a shoe. A pin 24, rising from the frame and lying in a passage in the jack, holds said jack against turning about its vertical axis. A screw 26, threaded into the plunger and movable through a vertical slot in the jack, maintains the plunger against rotation within said jack. In the jack-top are passages 28 arranged in acordance with a particular nailing design, and in these passages operate drivers 30, resting upon the upper face of the plunger-portion 20 and positioned at their lower extremities by a plate 32 resting upon the plunger and provided with openings to receive the drivers. Since the upper ends of the drivers are inclined inwardly and downwardly to produce a toeing-in of the nails when driven, said drivers are held in definite angular positions about their axes by a polygonal plate 34, lying upon the plate 32 and with its edges entering slots in the sides of the drivers. A screw 35, having its elongated head extending into a passage in the jack-top, holds both plates in place upon the plunger and aids the screw 26 in retaining the drivers and their plunger against rotation about the axis of the latter. The drivers are so located normally in the jack-passages that nails may be loaded upon their ends ready for insertion. The plunger l8 has an axial passage containing an expansion-spring 36, upon which rests a sleeve 38 rising above the passage and contacting with a surface at the under side of the jack-top. A screw 40 passing through the sleeve and spring and threaded at its lower extremity into the plunger, with its head contacting with the upper end of the sleeve, limits the expansion of the spring. During the nailing operation, this spring-expansion causes the jack to follow the work if said work tends to be lifted from the jack by the nail-inserting force of the drivers. It also aids gravity in returning the drivers and their plunger to their initial positions at the completion of the operation. A back-gage 42 is guided at opposite sides of the jack and may be adjusted from front to rear by a screw 44 to locate the heel of a jacked shoe in different relations to the driver-passages.

In. addition to the nailing of heels upon shoes, the jack may be utilized for the performance of other operations upon the work, as pounding down the heel-seat, preparing the tread-surface of the heel for the application of the top-lift or for working upon the breast-flap. To hold the work for such purposes, there is movable at the front of the jack in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined direction, a cross-piece 46 guided by a pin 48 movable in a bore in said jack. Rotatable in the cross-piece is a screw 50 threaded into a bushed opening in the jack. Attached at its opposite extremities to the ends of the cross'piece is a flexible strap 52. The strap is of such. length that with the screw turned into the jack, it may fall out of the way upon the frame-section M, as appears in Figs. 1 and 3. By raising the trap and backing off the screw 50, said strap may be caused to bear upon the rear of a heel it applied to the heel-seat of a jacket shoe S, as is shown in Fig. 2, or upon the counter-portion of the shoe itself. Sufiicient tension may then be applied to the work through the strap by the rotation of the screw to so hold the work-parts in place that the operator will have both hands free to perform the desired operations. As the bottom surface of the jack rests normally upon the upper face of the frame-section Hi, said jack is solidly supported for such use.

All the elements of the heel-nailing means H are so related that they may be withdrawn together from their mounting upon the frame, and a similar mechanism substituted in which the jack-passages and their drivers are arranged according to a different nailing design. By this means, the nailings for the entire range of shoesizes and heel-forms may be provided for.

The means T for the attachment of top-lifts preferably comprises a plurality of independent nailing mechanisms t, arranged in a circumferential series about a turret 54. This turret is rotatable about a vertical axis upon the top of an upward projection 56 from the frame-section l4 and is shown as having five equally spaced, peripheral arms or projections 58 (Fig. '7). Through each arm is a Vertical opening, in which is seated a casing 6t! of one of the mechanisms 1.. Since all the mechanisms t are the same, save as to the nailing design and some differences in dimensions, but one will be described. The casing has within its upper end a die-block 68, provided with a flange resting upon the top of the casing and upon the turret. Opposite screws 62, with their heads seated in the casing, extend into a V-groove ll about the block to hold it in place in said casing, of whch it may be considered to be a portion. In the block are vertical passages 10, corresponding to some nailing design. The casing is splined vertically to receive a feather l2 projecting from the turret-arm. Thus, as the casing is placed in its opening in the arm, it will be held in the correct angular position about its axis. Movable within the casing below the die-block is a plunger 14, carrying drivers 16 extending upwardly into the die-passages Ill. The drivers are headed at their lower ends, passing through openings in a plate 18 secured to the plunger by a screw 89 and which holds them in accordance with the nailing design furnished by the block-passages. The plunger is urged yieldably down by an expansion-spring 82, held in a bore in said plunger and forcing against the die-block a dowel-pin 84. This pin lies in both the block and plunger, holding the former against. turning with respect to the latter. A screw 86, threaded horizontally into the lower portion of the plunger and passing through a vertical slot in the casing, limits the downward movement of the plunger, space being left above the drivers for the reception of the top-lift-attaching nails in the die-passages. It will be seen that the entire die and driver-assembly may be lifted as a. unit from the turret and replaced by another having a different nailing design. Any one of the five top-lift-attaching mechanisms 15, carried together upon the turret, may be brought into operating position at the front of the frame-projection it and just at the rear of the heel-attaching mechanism H, by turning said turret through the necessary angle, at which point it will be releasably held by a spring-actuated latch ti, movable through the upper end of the projection and entering a depression in the turret corresponding to the chosen mechanism.

A top-lift l to be attached is placed upon the upper surface of the selected die-block 68 and the tread-end of a heel applied to it. To hold the lift and heel in the proper positions for the insertion of the attaching nails, I provide each die-block with means preferably consisting of upward projections 10 having gaging surfaces of different diameters. The projections are shown as threaded into the inner portion of the liftcontacting surface of the die-block, they being spaced equally at opposite sides of a radial center-line from the axis of the turret through the design formed by the passages it. Upon each projection, a lower cylindrical surface 88 receives contact of the edge of the top-lift, while an up per cylindrical surface 99 is of sufhcient diameter to so locate the tread-surface of the applied heel it that its periphery will be always within that of the lift. This arrangement is not only one of extreme simplicity, but it offers no interference to manipulation of the work by the operator and, further, furnishes between the projections a space which will receive angular portions of irregular pieces of material, which are often utilized for top-lifts. This is illustrated in Fig. 10, from which it will be seen that by avoiding the necessity for placing a single straight edge of a piece Z against the gaging means, scrap may be used, which could not otherwise be locatedproperly.

The heel-attaching means Hand the top-liftattaching means T each has a respective abutment A and B adapted to hold the work firmly against upward displacement when the nails are inserted by the drivers 39 or it. Either abut ment is arranged to be brought selectively into active position, the companion abutment being at the same time carried clear of both nailing mechanisms out of the operators way. Rotatable in the upward projection 56 of the framesection I4 is a shank or journal-portion I00 of a head I02 provided with oppositely extending arms I04, I06. The arm I04 is of sufficient horizontal extent to project over the jack 22, when in forward position. At this time, the arm I06 is at the rear of the machine. When the head is turned to reverse the arms, I06 comes over the mechanism t, which is in operating position, the arm I04 retreating to the rear. The head and arms are releasably retained in either position by a spring-actuated latch I01, movable horizontally through the frame-section I4 to engage either of two depressions in the journalportion I00 of the head. The clamping devices A and B may thus be caused to co-operate selectively with the inserting mechanisms to which they belong.

The head-arm I04 has movable vertically through it a plunger I08 of the heel-clamping device A, held normally elevated by an expansion-spring IIO interposed between the arm and a plunger-head II2, which may be engaged by the operator to actuate the clamp. The heelclamping means is temporarily held in its depressed relation by a detent II4, pivoted upon the arm I04 and spring-pressed to engage one of a series of teeth formed in the side of the plunger I08 at II6. Secured to the lower extremity of the plunger is a support H8, at the opposite sides of which are rearwardly and upwardly inclined ways I20. In these ways a slide I22 is movable, it being held frictionally at whatever point it may be placed by a spring I24 situated in one of the ways. From the slide is a rearward extension I26, which, as may be seen in Fig. 3 at I28, is out of engagement with the support. At the forward portion of the slide is carried a heel-tread-abutment I30, arranged by a curved upper contact-surface I32 and an expansion-spring I34 for universal movement of self-accommodation. Through the extension I26 of the slide is an upwardly and forwardly inclined opening to receive the shank I36 of a rear heel-abutment I38 having a cushion-surfacet generally conforming to the lateral contour of a heel near the cup-end. A screw I40 secures the abutment I38 to the shank, so it may readily be removed and replaced by others of different forms. A spring-actuated friction device I42, mounted in the slide and engaging a longitudinal groove in the shank, allows temporary retention of the rear abutment in the position given it by the operator. A shoe having been jacked, and a heel applied to its heel-seat, the operator forces down the plunger I08, so positioning the slide I22 and the shank I36 that the abutments I30 and I38, respectively, will correctly engage the tread and rear lateral surfaces of the heel. The detent II 4 holds the device A against the pressure applied at the time of nail-insertion. The elements of this hold-down device A are so related to the heel that the center of the pressure exerted comes through the extension I26. There is consequently a component of the applied force which acts upon the extension and, since this is capable of upward displacement at I28, cramps the body of the slide in its ways to lock it against movement. Further, because of the force imposed upon the rear abutment I38, which force is at an angle to the direction of movement of the shank I36, said shank is also cramped and is thereby locked. The treadabutment I30 assumes upon the slide whatever angle may be necessary. Consequently, engagement having been established between'the abutments and the work, they are there firmly held to most advantageously resist the pressure. Upon the completion of the heeling operation, the operator releases the detent H4, and the spring H0 lifts the heel-clamping device A free from the work.

Vertically through the head-arm I06 a plunger I46 of the shoe-clamping device B is movable. The elevating, depressing and retaining means for this plunger may be similar to those of the heel-clamping device and need not again be described. Upon the lower extremity of the plunger a contact-plate I48 is pivoted to rock freely. When the arm I06 is in its forward active position over the chosen top-lift-attaching mechanism t,

the vertical axis of the plunger will be close to the posite extremity. This causes the plate to hang a normally inclined outwardly and downwardly at an angle to the horizontal and facilitates its entrance into the shoe. It then accommodates itself to the angle of the insole, a roughened surface I50, which engages said insole, guarding against slipping. The manipulation by the operator of the plunger of the shoe-clamping device B may be the same as that for the heel-clamping device A.

Turning now to the reciprocation of the drivers of the mechanisms H and T by the mechanism C for the insertion of the nails, there is guided for vertical movement in the frame-column I0 an actuating member or primary plunger I60 (Fig. 1). A link I62 joins this plunger to a bellcrank-lever I64, fulcrumed upon the column. A link I66, upon which force is exerted by a tension-spring I68, connects the lever I64 to the treadle I6, the spring holding the treadle normally raised and the plunger lowered. A springconnection I10 is preferably included in the link I66, to permit a full depression of the treadle after the upward travel of the plunger has been stopped. Mounted to turn about the upper extremity of the plunger I60 and forming a part thereof is a terminal-portion I12 having two arms I14 and I16. These arms are so arranged angularly about the axis of the plunger that when the outer end of the arm I14 is in vertical registration with the heel-nailing plunger I6 of the mechanism H, the arm I16 occupies an inactive position (Fig. 8). When the arm I 16 is vertically alined with the top-lift-nailing plunger 14 of the chosen mechanism t, the arm I14 is inactive (Fig. 9).

In preparing the mechanism C to actuate the desired nailing mechanism, the operator is relieved of the burden of a separate act for this purpose by making the shift of the terminalportion I12 dependent upon the positioning of the carrier-arms of the head I 02 with the clamping devices A and B into and out of their active relation. Attached to the bottom of the journalportion I00 of the head is a plate I18 (Fig. 3), from which depends a projection I80. A link I82, capable of movement along the projection, unites it to a crank-pin I84 upon the under side of the plunger-terminal I12. These elements are so related that when the operator brings the heelclamping device A over the mechanism H, this connection to the head disposes below the driverplunger I8 a contact member I86 carried by the terminal-arm I14. Now, when the actuating plunger I6!) is raised upon depression of the treadle I6, the engagement of the member I86 with the lower end of the driver-plunger will elevate the drivers 30 and cause the nails supported upon their ends to be driven through the heelrest of a shoe into an applied heel. At this time, the terminal-arm I16 reciprocates idly. If a top-lift is to be attached, and. the operator rotates the head I02 to bring the clamping mechanism 13 above the active nailing mechanism 1., the connections to the head position the end of the arm I16 beneath an intermediate plunger I 88. This intermediate plunger is mounted to move in a bore through the frame-section I4. Depression of the treadle I6 and elevation of the actuating plunger I60 will, with this position of the terminal-arms, raise the intermediate plunger and the driver-plunger 14 to force through a toplift and into a superposed heel, nails carried by the drivers 16. Now the movement of the arm lid is idle.

The force required to drive the heel-attaching nails properly may be too great for top-liftattaching, where the force is concentrated upon the relatively limited area of the tread-end of the heel. I therefore limit the pressure which may be applied through the intermediate plunger Itil to the driver-plunger 14. Situated in the terminalarm I16 for vertical alinement with the plunger Its is a casing I99. The bottom of this casing is closed by a screw I92, upon which rests an expansion-spring I94. The spring exerts its force to hold normally projected yieldably through the upper extremity of the casing a reciprocatory plug I96, the upward movement of which is limited by the engagement of its head I98 with a portion of the casing of reduced diameter. The screw I92 may be adjusted to place upon the spring I9 3 a predetermined load. When the force exerted through the arm I16 exceeds this load, the spring will yield, so excessive pressure cannot be transmitted to the driver-plungers of the top-lift-attaching mechanisms t. The applied force for a full depression of the treadle I6 during operation upon heels of small diameter, and for which a reduced number of nails are used, may further be controlled by introducing, between the upper end of the intermediate plunger I88 and the surface of the driver-plunger with which it contacts, a certain amount of lost motion. This may be accomplished by forming in the bottom of the plunger or plungers 14 for the smaller nailings, such a depression as is indicated at I99 in Fig. 3. In consequence of this, the amount of time for each treadle-depression during which the plunger i838 acts upon the driver-plunger may be varied, and the effective force exerted correspondingly governed. With larger heels and top-lifts, requiring the insertion of a greater'number of nails, the spring I94 may so yield that the plug Hi6 fully retreats within the casing I90. Under these conditions, there will be solid contact between the top of the casingand the bottom of the intermediate plunger I88, and the driverplunger will receive the full actuating force which can be transmitted from the treadle through the relatively strong spring I10.

Were the actuating plunger I69 permitted, after its operation, to return to that initial position from which the heel-attaching operations start, the operator during the attachment of top-lifts Kw-cum be compelled to make an unnecessarily long treadle-movement. This will be understood upon comparing in Fig. 3 the relation between the contact member I88 and the driver-plunger I8 and that between the plug I96 and the intermediate plunger I88. To avoid this unnecessary burden upon the operator, the downward travel of the plunger Ifiii may be limited during top-lift-attaching. From one side of the plunger-terminal H2 is a projection till). With the terminal in the heel-nailing position of Fig. 8, this projection is so situated that in the reciprocation of the plunger, it moves wholly clear of a stop 2532, pivoted within the column II) and spring-pressed inwardly. Under these conditions, the plunger, upon depression of the treadle, will make its maximum stroke, unailected by the stop. In the fully retracted position of the plunger, the terminalprojeeticn 206 is opposite the stop. If a top-lift is to be attached, the rotation of the plunger-terminal, resulting from the rotation of the head Hi2 to shift the clamping devices A and B, causes the projection 2&6 to engage and. force the stop away from it. Upon depression of the treadle and elevation of the plunger, the projection leaves the stop, which is free to be urged beneath it by the spring. When the plunger descends, the projection contacts with the upper face of the stop (Fig. 9) and is held with the upper end of the plug let in close proximity to the lower extremity of the intermediate plunger N8. of additional top-lifts, this being the work most frequently done by the machine, the treadlemovement does not exceed that necessary for such an operation. Upon restoration of the head it? to its heel-attaching position, the projection the moves away from the stop, so it is free therefrom until there is again occasion to nail a top-lift.

When the operator releases the treadle after an attaching operation, the spring Hit tends to pull the plunger I66 down abruptly, the driven-plunger of either the heel-attaching mechanism H or a top-lift-attaching mechanism t falling similarly. I provide means for cushioning this retraction. The plunger I 63 is shown as having an upper por tion tilt larger than the lower portion, thus furnishing the piston of a dash-pot device fitting in a cylinder 266 formed in the guiding bracket tug of the frame-column. The space between the piston-portion and the lower end of the cylinder may be bled by a contracted air-opening 2 i it from the cylinder just above the bottom or the piston in 'is lowest position. The air in the cylinder is compressed by the descent of the plunger to reduce the rate of travel and to cushion its movement, the plunger of the attaching mechanism in use being similarly retarded. The retraction is therefore effected with-out shock.

In Fig. '1 of the drawings, the machine is shown as having the section iii of the frame so extended at 226 to the right of the column it as to furnish a table upon which Work-parts or tools may be laid, while at the opposite side of the column, it provides a top-lift-raek 222 and gaging means to permit the operator to determine readily the size of top-lift to be used for a particular heel. Along the front of the rack is a series of gage-openings 22%, equal in number to the nailing mechanisms t in the turret 5%, each opening having the form of a cut top-lift and gradually increasing in size from one end of the series to the other. Associated with each opening is a symbol 226, as a numeral, identifying the size of the top-lift. The die-blocks 68 are inscribed with like symbols at 228, individual to the respective mechanisms t andshowing that the nailing design of a par- For the attachment ticular mechanism is appropriate for the attachment of the top-lift indicated by the symbol of the gage-opening. At the rear of the openings 224, in respective alinement therewith, are toplift-holders 230 in the form of grooves. By determining the opening 224 which will pass with some clearance the tread-end of a heel to which a top-lift is to be applied, the operator will be informed as to the size of the required lift and may take this from the alined holder. The lifts in the holders will preferably be somewhat larger than the corresponding gage-openings. The operator also knows without other consideration, by the identity of the symbols upon the rack and die-block, the nailing mechanism t which should be used for the attaching operation.

If an operator wishes to attach a heel by this machine, and assuming that there is in place upon the support I4 a heel-nailing mechanism H having a nailing design suitable for the work in hand, and that the machine was last used for nailing a top-lift, he rotates the head I02 until the latch I01 enters the head-depression corresponding to the arm I04. This places the heelclamping device A above the mechanism H. The shoe-clamping device B passes to the opposite side of the machine, leaving the space at the rear of the jack 22 free for the application of a shoe S to said jack. With the driver-passages 28 supplied with nails N, a shoe in place upon the jack, and a heel h positioned upon its heel-seat (Fig. 3), the operator forces down the plunger I08 of the clamping device A, moving the slide I22 and the shank I80, until the tread-abutment I30 and the rear abutment I38 will most effectively contact with the heel. Relatively light engagement with the heel gives the operator an opportunity to locate the work and abutments accurately. The detent I I4 holds the plunger against upward displacement. The positioning of the clamping head I02 has, through its connection to the terminal I12 of the actuating plunger I60, placed the terminal-arm I14 below the driver-plunger I8 of the mechanism H, with the arm I16 clear of the top-lift-attaching means. Upon the depression of the treadle I6 by the operator, the driverplunger is raised by the contact member I86, the elevation of the jack 22 applies clamping pressure to the work, at the same time looking the abutments of the clamping device A. Then the spring 36 yields, and continued elevation of the driver-plunger causes the drivers 30 to force the nails which they carry through the heelseat of the shoe into the heel. In this heelnailing position of the plunger-terminal I12, the projection 200 travels in a path clear of the stop 202, so the return of the actuating plunger by the spring I68 and the driver-plunger by the spring 36 is unaffected thereby. The descent of these elements will be cushioned by the dash-pot device 204, 206. The operator will now release the detent II4 of the heel-clamping device A, which will be raised by the spring H0, and the heeled shoe may be removed from the jack. The design for any particular nailing will be unvarying and the heads of the nails will be properly sunk in the insole. Since the shanks of the nails are inclined inwardly away from the periphery of the heel by the inclined driver-ends, they have increased holding power and do not break through the heel-wall. None of these results can consistently be attained by manual attachment.

If a top-lift l is to be attached to a heel h already on a shoe S, the operator takes the shoe and applies the tread-end of the heel to one or more of the gage-openings 224 in the rack 222. He thus determines which is enough larger than the heel to indicate that the top-lift of the corresponding holder 230 is of the correct size. Removing one of the lifts and noting the symbol associated with the gage and holder, the operator turns the turret 54 through such an angle as may be necessary to bring to its forward operating position that mechanism t which has the same identifying symbol as that of the selected holder. Such mechanism will have a nailing design best arranged for the size of the lift to be attached. The turret is there held by the latch 81, and a load of nails n is supplied to the driverpassages 10 of the thus-positioned die-block 68. The head I02 is reversed from its heel-clamping relation and latched at I08, the shoe-clamping device B being now over the chosen mechanism t, and the clamping device A at the rear of the machine.

The selected top-lift is placed upon the die-block, with its curved periphery against the gage-surfaces 88, and the breast-edge at the front. Then, the tread-surface of the heel 71. upon the shoe S is placed upon the top-lift and so located by the gage-surfaces 90 that the tread-periphery of the heel is entirely within the larger area of the lift. If scrap is to be utilized for the top-lift, it may advantageously be located upon the die, with any angular portion extending between the gageprojections (Fig. 10). In Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper surface of the jack 22 is substantially at the same level as the top of the die 68. Consequently, it furnishes means for properly supporting the forepart of the shoe and relieves the operator of the necessity for holding the work in a horizontal position. It also aids in gaging the angular relation of the shoe and heel horizontally. With the work-parts thus located, the plunger I46 of the device B is depressed, and the plate I48 held by the detent associated with the plunger in clamping engagement with the insole of the shoe (Fig. 6). By the turning of the head I02, the plug I96 of the terminal-arm I16 has been brought into registration with the intermediate plunger I88, the contact member I86 being carried away from the driverplunger of the heel-attaching mechanism H. The terminal-projection 200 is now opposite the stop 202. Depression of the treadle I 6 and consequent elevation of the plunger I60 causes the risirg plug I96 to first fully clamp the work by the upward movement of the die, and then as the spring 82 yields, to actuate the drivers 16. There is applied to the nails, through the loaded spring I94 and with such lost-motion as has been provided between the top of the intermediate plunger I88 and the bottom of the driver-plunger 14, a force which is adequate for the insertion of the nails in the chosen nailing design and which is less than any which will tend to crush the heel or deform its cover. Because after the plunger-terminal I12 has been lifted for its toplift-attaching operation, the stop 202 will reduce the extent of its return travel, succeeding toplifts may be nailed with less treadle-movement by the operator than that required for heel-attaching. Upon completion of the nailing operation, the springs 82 and I68 return the nail-driving elements and their actuating mechanism to positions ready for the next operation, and the release of the clamping device B frees the work for removal. As in heel-attaching, the arrangement of the nails will be always the same for a chosen design and the depth of driving uniform. If, at any time, the operator wishes to hold a shoe or a shoe and heel upon the jack 22- for manual operations upon the heel-seat or heel, the strap 52 may be brought into action.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a plurality of work-supports, a plurality of fastening-inserting means, one of which co operates with each support, a work-abutment individual to each support, and a carrier for the abutments movable to present selectively each abutment to its support.

2. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a work-support situated at the front of the machine, a work-support situated at the rear of such front support, fastening-inserting means co-operating with each support, a movable carrier. and a work-abutment co-operating with each support and mounted upon the carrier, each abutment being movable by the car rier into registration with its support while the other abutment is movable away from its support.

3. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a frame, a plurality of work-supports mounted upon the frame, a plurality of fastening-inserting means, one of which co-operates with each support, a head rotatable upon the frame, and plural work-abutments respectively individual to the particular supports, said abutments being carried by the head and revoluble selectively thereby into co-operation with their supports.

4. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, 9. frame, two work-supports mounted upon the frame, fastening-inserting means co-operating with each support, a head rotatable upon the frame, and work-abutments carried by the head at different distances from the axis of rotation and movable thereby selectively into cooperation with the respective supports.

5. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, a frame, heel-nailing mechanism and top-liftnailing mechanism mounted upon the frame, a head rotatable upon the frame and provided with two projecting arms, a clamp movable upon one arm for co-operation with the heel-nailing mechanism, and a clamp movable upon the other arm for co-operation with the top-lift-nailing mechanism.

6. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, a shoe-entering jack, drivers operating therein, a top-lift-supporting die, drivers operating in the die, a heel-engaging member co-operating with the jack, and a shoeengaging member co-op- .erating with the die.

7. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, a shoe-entering jack-top, drivers operating therein, a top-lift-supporting die, drivers operating in the die, a heel-engaging member co-operating with the jack-top, a shoe-engaging member co-operating with the die, and a carrier for the engaging members and by which they may be moved into and out of active relation to the elements with which they co-operate.

8. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, mechanism for supporting a shoe and attaching a heel thereto, and mechanism for supporting a top-lift and attaching it to said heel, the heelattaching mechanism being arranged to furnish a support for the forepart of the shoe during the top-lift-attaching operation.

9. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, a shoe-entering jack-top, drivers operating therein, a top-lift-supporting die, and drivers operating in the die, the jack-top being arranged to support the forepart of a shoe the heel of which rests upon a top-lift on the die.

10. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel and situated at an operators position,

and a plurality of mechanisms for attaching another portion of a heel, any one of which plural mechanisms may be moved into co-operation with the mechanism first mentioned at the operators position.

11. In a heel and top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism situated at an operators position, and a plurality of top-lift-attaching mechanisms, any one of which is movable into active relation at the operators position.

12. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, a frame, heel-nailing mechanism mounted at the front of the frame, a turret rotatable in the frame at the rear of the heel-nailing mechanism, and a plurality of top-lift-nailing mechanisms carried by the turret and any one of which may be turned into an active position at the front of the frame.

13. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel, work-clamping means co-operating therewith, a plurality of mechanisms for attaching another portion of a heel, any one of which plural mechanisms may be moved into an active position, andwork-clamping means with which cooperates that of the plural mechanisms which is in active position.

14. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism, a heel-engaging abutment co-operating with the heel-attaching mechanism, a plurality of top-lift-attaching mechanisms, any one of which may be movable into an active position, and a shoe-engaging abutment co-operating with the top-lift-attaching mechanism which is in active position.

15. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, a frame, heel-nailing mechanism mounted at the front of the frame, a turret rotatable in the frame at the rear of the heel-nailing mechanism, a plurality of top-lift-nailing mechanisms carried by the turret and any one of which may be turned into an active position, a head rotatable upon the frame, a heel-engaging clamp movable upon the head for co-operation with the heel-attaching mechanism, and a shoe-engaging clamp movable upon the head for co-operation with that top-lift-attaching mechanism which is in active position.

16. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel, mechanism for attaching another portion of the heel, a movable actuating member, and means arranged to move the member into position to actuate selectively either of the attaching mechanisms.

17. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel, mechanism for attaching another portion of the heel, a movable actuating member for the mechanisms movable in different directions, means arranged to move the member in one direction to determine which of the mechanisms shall be actuated, and means arranged to move the member in another direction to actuate a selected mechanism.

18. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel, mechanism for attaching another porating member for the mechanisms, means arranged to rotate the member to determine which of the mechanisms shall be actuated, and means arranged to reciprocate the member to actuate the selected mechanism.

19. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism each having a reciprocatory plunger, an actuating member having portions movable respectively into registrationwith one of the plungers, and means arranged to move the member to actuate that plunger with which registration has been established.

20. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism each having a reciprocatory plunger, a reciprocatory rod provided with a terminal rotatable thereon and having portions for the respective actuation of the plungers, and means arranged to turn the terminal so its engaging portions may act upon one or the other of the plungers.

21. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a plurality of mechanisms each of which may be employed for the attachment of a heelportion and having elements movable into and out of active position, a member movable into position to actuate selectively any one of the attaching mechanisms, and means connected to the movable element of the attaching mechanisms for effecting the positioning of the actuating member.

22. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a plurality of mechanisms each of which may be employed for the attachment of a heelportion, work-clamping members movable into and out of active co-operation with the respective attaching mechanisms, a member movable to positions to actuate selectively any one of the attaching mechanisms, and means connected to the clamping members for determining the position of the actuating member.

23. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a plurality of work-supports, a plurality of fastening-inserting means, one of which cooperates with each support, a work-abutment individual to each support, a carrier for the abutments movable to present selectively each abutment to its support, means for selectively actuating any one of the fastening-inserting mechanisms, and means connected to the abutment-carrier for determining the fastening-inserting means actuated.

24. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism, a work-clamp co-operating with each mechanism, a carrier upon which the clamps are movable into and out of active co-operation with their mechanisms, a member movable into difierent positions for the actuation of either the heelattaching mechanism or the top-lift-attaching mechanism, and means for communicating movement of the carrier to the actuating member.

25. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism, each having a reciprocatory plunger, a heel-clamp co-operating with the heel-attaching mechanism, a shoe-clamp co-operating with the top-lift-attaching mechanism, a reciprocatory rod provided with a terminal rotatable thereon and having portions for the respective actuation of the plungers, a rotatable head upon which the clamps are movable, and a link joining the head to the terminal.

26. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a plurality of fastening-inserting means, and actuating means common to the plurality of inserting means, said actuating means having means for transmitting to different inserting means diverse fastening-inserting forces.

2'7. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a plurality of fastening-inserting means, and actuating means common to the plurality of inserting means, said actuating means having means including a normally loaded spring for transmitting to different inserting means diverse fastening-inserting forces.

28. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism, top-lift-attaching mechanism, and 'a movable actuating member ,common to both mechanisms, there being means for transmitting less force from the actuating member to the top-lift-attaching mechanism than to the heel-attaching mechanism.

29. In a heeland top-lift-nailing machine, heel-nailing mechanism, top-lift-nailing mechanism, and movable actuating means arranged for direct action upon the heel-nailing mechanism and having a normally loaded spring through which movement is transmitted to the top-lift-nailing mechanism.

30. In a heel and top-lift-nailing machine, heel-nailing mechanism and top-lift-nailing mechanism each having a driver-plunger, an actuating plunger provided with a terminal rotatable thereon and having portions to act respectively upon the driver-plungers, the action on one driver-plunger being through an interposed spring, and means arranged to turn the terminal so its portions may act upon one or the other of the driver-plungers.

31. In a machine for attaching heel-portions, a plurality of fastening-inserting mechanisms, and an actuating member common to the plural inserting mechanisms and movable through different distances to act upon different inserting mechanisms.

32. In a machine for attaching heel-portions, a plurality of nailing mechanisms, each provided with a driver-plunger and any one of which may be moved into nailing position, and a movable actuating member common to all the nailing mechanisms, surfaces of the driver-plungers of the difierent nailing mechanisms which are acted upon by the actuating member when in nailing position being situated at different distances from said actuating member.

33. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism, a plurality of toplift-attaching mechanisms, each mechanism being provided with a driver-plunger, an actuating plunger common to all the driver-plungers, said actuating plunger acting directly upon the driver-plunger of the heel-attaching mechanism and being movable through different distances to act upon the driver-plungers of the top-lift-attaching mechanisms, and a spring through which the actuating plunger operates the driverplungers of the top-lift-attaching mechanisms.

34. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching a heel-portion, mechanism for attaching another heel-portion, a member movable through diiferent distances to actuate the respective mechanisms, and means for retaining the actuating member against reverse movement between its actuation of the first and second mechanisms.

35. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching a heel-portion, mechanism for attaching another heel-portion, a

member movable through different distances to actuate the respective mechanisms and to dif- .ferent positions to select the mechanism to be actuated, and retaining means for the actuating member, said retaining means being effective in one of the selecting positions of the actuating member and ineffective in another position thereof.

36. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching a heel-portion, mechanism for attaching another heel-portion, a member movable through different distances to actuate the respective mechanisms and to different positions to select the mechanism to be actuated, and retaining means for the actuating member, said retaining means being movable out of its retaining relation by the actuating member.

37. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching a heel-portion, mechanism for attaching another heel-portion, a member movable through different distances to actuate the respective mechanisms and to different positions to select the mechanism to be actuated, and retaining means for the actuating memher, said retaining means being movable out of its retaining relation by the actuating member in one only of its selecting positions.

38. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel, mechanism for attaching another portion of the heel, a rotary and reciprocatory actuating member for the mechanisms, means arranged to rotate the member to determine which of the mechanisms shall be actuated, means arranged to reciprocate the member to actuate the selected mechanism, and a stop for the member effective in onev only of its rotary positions and limiting the return in its reciprocatory movement.

39. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, mechanism for attaching one portion of a heel, mechanism for attaching another portion of the heel, a rotary and reciprocatory actuating member for the mechanisms, means arranged to rotate the member to determine which of the mechanisms shall be actuated, means arranged to reciprocate the member to actuate the selected mechanism, and a yieldable stop movable by the member-in one of its rotary positions and limiting in another of its positions the return of the member in its reciprocatory movement.

40. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism, each having a reciprocatory plunger, an actuating member having portions movable respectively into registration with one of the plungers, means arranged to move the member to actuate that plunger with which registration has been established, and a stop for limiting reverse movement of the actuating member, said stop being effective only when the member is in registration with the plunger of the top-lift-attaching mechanism.

41. In a heeland top-lift-attaching machine, heel-attaching mechanism and top-lift-attaching mechanism, each having a reciprocatory plunger, a reciprocatory rod provided with a terminal rotatable thereon and having portions for the respective engagement with the plungers, means arranged to turn the terminal so its engaging portions may act upon one or the other of the plungers, and a yieldable stop movable by the terminal when one of its engaging portions is turned to active position and projected into the path of said terminal while the thus turned engaging portion is in active position.

42. In a machine for attaching heelportions to shoes, a rotatable turret provided with a circumferential series of openings and being movable selectively by the operator to bring any one of the openings to operating position, a fasteninginserting mechanism separably mounted in each opening and having a die provided with passages, drivers reciprocable in the die-passages and a plunger upon which the drivers are carried, each inserting mechanism having its die-passages and drivers arranged according to an inserting design differing fromthose of the other inserting mechanisms and being separable from the turret as a unit, and an actuating member into registration with which any one of the plungers may be turned in the rotation of the turret.

43. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a rotatable turret provided with a circumferential series of openings, a fastening-inserting mechanism separably mounted in each opening and having a die provided with passages, drivers reciprocable in the die-passages and a plunger upon which the drivers are mounted, and means common to both the die and drivers whereby each inserting mechanism is fixedas a unit in a predetermined angular relation in its opening.

44. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a rotatable turret provided with a cir cumferential series of openings, a casing separably seated in each opening and provided at one extremity with passages, the passages of each casing being arranged in accordance with a different inserting design, a plunger reciprocable in each casing and carrying drivers operating in the I passages and contained therein during the separation of their casing from the turret, and an actuating memberinto registration with which any one of the plungers may be turned in the rotation of the turret.

45. In a machine for attaching heel-portions to shoes, a rotatable turret provided with a circumferential series of openings, a casing seated in each opening and provided at one extremity with passages, the passages of each casing being arrranged in accordance with a different inserting design, a plunger reciprocable in each casing and carrying drivers operating in the passages,

an expansion-spring interposed between the plunger and casing, and an actuating member into registration with which any one of the plungers may be turned in the rotation of the turret.

46. In a heel-attaching machine, a jack, a device co-operating therewith, said jack and device being movable relatively to clamp a heel, the clamping device comprising a support provided With ways, a slide movable in the ways, a treadabutment movable upon the slide, and a rear abutment having a portion movable through the slide, the slide and rear abutment being normally free for movement by the operator by the application of forces in the directions of their movements, there being means for locking the slide and rear abutment by forces created in clamping the heel.

47. In a heel-attaching machine, the combination with a jack, of a device co -operating therewith, said jack and device being movable relatively to clamp a heel, the clamping device comprising a support provided with ways, a slide movable in the ways and having an extension in the direction of movement and out of engagement with the ways and an opening through the extension, a tread-abutment movable upon the slide, and a rear abutment provided with a shank passwith an opening, a tread-abutment movable upon the slide, a rear abutment having a shank inclined upwardly and forwardly and passing through the slide-opening, and spring devices arranged to maintain the slide and abutmentshank in the positions to which they may be moved.

50. In a heel-attaching machine, the combination with a jack, of a hold-down having ways inclined downwardly and forwardly over the jack, a slide movable in the ways and provided with an opening, a tread-abutment mounted for universal movement upon the slide, and a rear abutment having a shank inclined upwardly and forwardly and passing through the slide-opening.

51. The combination with a work-supporting jack, of fastening-drivers movable therein, a clamp movable opposite the drivers into and out of engagement with the work, a strap mounted upon the jack for engagement with the work at the rear of the drivers, and means for tensioning the strap.

52. The combination with a work-supporting jack, of fastening-drivers movable therein, a

clamp movable opposite the drivers into and out of engagement with the work, a strap mounted upon the jack for engagement with the work at the rear of the drivers, a cross-piece movable upon the jack at the front of the drivers and to which the strap is connected, and a screw rotatable in the cross-piece and threaded into the jack.

53. In combination, a plurality of mechanisms for attaching top-lifts to shoes,each mechanism being identified by a symbol and any one of said mechanisms being movable into operating position, a rack having a plurality of sections each arranged to hold a series of top-lifts corresponding to a particular attaching mechanism, and a gage associated with each rack-section and arranged to determine the size of the heel to which the toplifts held in said section should be attached, the rack-sections and their gages being identified by symbols corresponding to those of the attaching mechanisms.

54. In combination, a rack having a plurality of sections arranged to hold respectively series of top-lifts of different sizes, and a gage associated with each rack-section and adapted to determine the size of the heel to which the toplifts in said section should be attached, each pair of corresponding rack-sections and gages being identified by the same symbol.

55. A top-lift-rack comprising a plate in which is a'series of grooves arranged to hold top-lifts of different sizes, there being a gage-opening in the plate near one extremity of each groove, said opening being smaller than the top-lifts in the corresponding groove to determine the size of heel to which said top-lifts should be attached.

FRANCIS L. BRANDT. 

